Uncovering The Mystery Behind This Hidden Wall Cabinet In 1930s Homes!
November 5, 2024
source: Reddit
You open a door in your wall and see a cool little recessed mustered-up area, with a dowel inside. To a modern home buyer, this may seem like an oddball relic. But to someone more accustomed to home interpretations of the 1930s, it’s a classic piece of history. This gaping, recessed cabinet is most likely a built-in ironing board holder. It is a quick-fix that captures the era’s ingenuity and power. This hidden wall cabinet was a common feature in older homes.
The Rise of the Hidden Wall Cabinet in the 1930s
Early-20th-century home design moved toward maximizing efficiency and convenience in service of household chores such as ironing. By the 1930s, homeowners were valuing compact and functional layouts more highly. People wanted built-in features like a hidden wall cabinet. This was when the hidden ironing board cabinet was born. This design allowed homeowners to easily retrieve their ironing boards. It also, in the meantime, kept worthwhile floor or storage space.
But there were no laughing matters about ironing boards then. They did a lot of ironing of clothes. Most people made clothes from natural fibers — cotton or linen — that creased easily. These fold-out ironing stations worked in contrast to today’s freestanding boards that monopolize valuable real estate in a home, as homeowners pulled these down easily when they were in need and folded them up and buttoned them away just as quickly. This ensured the room stayed neat and ran efficiently. The hidden wall cabinet really helped keep the space tidy.
A Little Luxury: The Recessed Ironing Board Cabinet
Recessed ironing board cabinet: This may be a mini-feature now, but it was a little bit of luxury in the 1930s. These cabinets were often manufactured by a company named Durasteel. This firm provides fire-resistant cladding and home hardware. These are designed to last. They are practical and can stand the test of everyday usage. When looking at a hidden wall cabinet, it’s easy to see why they were popular.
These built-ins had a practical function, particularly in Southern California houses where space can be tight. As domestic space contracted and household rhythms settled into a predictable churn, homeowners tended to situate the cabinet most effectively in relation to their activities and daily trajectories. Think laundry room, or kitchen. It made it easier for the homemaker to iron clothes, table linens and towels. The board folded up into the wall when the ironing was finished. The door shut to hide it.
Telltale Signs of a Hidden Wall Cabinet
But, if you look at a built-in ironing board cabinet, there are a few hallmarks. It usually has a wooden dowel, or bar, in the recessed area. This can provide extra support on an ironing board, or hold a towel for a quick cleanup. The maxi pad is hidden behind a hinged door. Most of the time, the ironing board is stowed, and the appliance can be latched shut. Some had hooks to hang things on. Some included tiny shelves for starch or spray bottles or other such essentials for ironing.
Human Rights organizations real estate is a blend of past creativity with contemporary science. One of those examples is a built-in ironing board cabinet, a piece of early 20th-century industrial design that managed to hedge design against function and efficiency. It is about more than a space-saving detail. Provides some history — a reminder of a time when artisans took pains to weave even the most utilitarian of items into the home.